The Herald - Thursday, May 23, 1895

The terms of the verdict against Alfred Taylor, tried at the Old Bailey yesterday on a charge of abominable practices require to be amended.

The jury found that accused was himself twice guilty of indecency, as already cabled. But they found also that the prisoner once procured for Oscar Wilde. Ihe jury, however, disagreed as to whether Wilde on that occasion committed any indecency.

Something of a scene took place between counsel after the conviction of Taylor at the Old Bailey.

Sir Edward Clarke renewed and strongly pressed his application for a postponement of the trial of Oscar Wilde.

Sir F. Lockwood, the Crown Solicitor, rose and angrily declared that he had expected some request of the kind, remarking further that an effort was being made on behalf of Wilde to take advantage of a position created by separate trial, which the Crown had opposed, but which the Grand Jury, on the suggestion of the presiding judge, had agreed to.

The Marquis of Queensberry and his son Lord Alfred Douglas, who has lately been associated under very unenviable circumstances with Oscar Wilde, met this evening in Piccadilly, and a furious row took place.

Lord Alfred, it is understood, resented his father's reproaches and used expressions which provoked the Marquis to strike him.

A stand-up fight followed. A large crowd collected, and there was great excitement in Piccadilly, especially when it became known who the combatants were.

Ultimately the police intervened and stopped the fight, and arrested both father and son.

They were taken to the nearest station, and there a new difficulty arose, for, although each complained of the other, neither would lay a formal charge.

The police therefore entered a charge of disorderly conduct against both the Marquis and his son.

Immediately afterwards they were bailed out by friends and left the station.

They are to appear before the magistrates to-day, in order to answer for their conduct.

Lord Alfred Douglas appears to have suffered the more, as he left the police station with a badly damaged face and a black eye.

The Marquis of Queensberry had his hat smashed in the encounter, but was not hit about the face.

The crowds heartily cheered the Marquis.

The Weekly Times - Saturday, May 25, 1895

There was enormous public interest taken to-day in the proceedings before the Criminal Court, and a very large attendance at the Old Bailey.

The occasion was the presentation for re-trial of Oscar Wilde, the famous dramatic author, and his alleged accomplice, Alfred Taylor.

These men underwent trial at the beginning of the month, when two accusations were preferred. Oscar Wilde was charged, under the provisions of the 11th section of the Criminal Law Amendment Act, with committing an abominable offence, and also with conspiring with Alfred Taylor for the purpose of the commission of similar offences. Like charges were made against Taylor. The conspiracy case utterly broke down, and the jury, under direction, found the accused not guilty. On the other charge the jury were unable to agree in regard to either of the accused and the latter were consequently remanded.

The re-trial, which opened to-day, was before Mr Justice Wills.

Charging the Grand Jury, to whom, in the first instance, the cases are sent, Mr Justice Wills suggested that as the jury had failed to agree in the former trial, and the charge of conspiracy no longer stood, Wilde and Taylor ought now to be presented separately.

Sir Edward Clarke, Q.C., who appeared for Oscar Wilde, approved of his Honor's suggestion, and further agreed that the case of Wilde ought to be postponed until the next session of the Court.

The Grand Jury accepted the learned judge's view and decided that Taylor should be tried first.

Sir Edward Clarke renewed his application that Wilde's trial be postponed until next session.

Mr F. Lockwood, Q.C., who appeared to prosecute for the Crown, opposed the application.

Mr Justice Wills said that he would not deal with the matter at all at that stage. He preferred to await the issue of the trial of Taylor, when he would finally decide whether there seemed to be reason for granting a postponement of the trial of the other prisoner.

Oscar Wilde was then admitted to bail.

The taking of evidence was at once proceeded with in the case against Taylor. The principal witness again was the young man Charles Parker, a valet out of place, who figured so prominently in both the first trial and as a witness for the defence in the abortive proceedings taken by Wilde against the Marquis of Queensberry. The witness remained steadfast, under cross-examination, as to the visitations to and conduct of Oscar Wilde at these rooms.

Counsel for the defence of Taylor claimed the discharge of the accused on the ground that the only material evidence against him came from a tainted source — from the mouth of the witness Charles Parker.

The case was not concluded when the Court adjourned for the day.

TAYLOR CONVICTED.

LONDON, May 21.

At the Old Bailey the trial of Alfred Taylor, with whom Wilde has had a now notorious association, was resumed before Mr Justice Wills.

There were two charges in the indictment against him at the second trial, which was opened yesterday, and finished this evening.

The first charge was that of procuring the commission of an offence on the part of Oscar Wilde and the young valet, Charles Parker. The second was that of himself committing abominable offences with Charles Parker and that person's brother, a groom named William Parker.

The jury found that accused was himself twice guilty of indecency, as already cabled. But they found also that the prisoner once procured for Oscar Wilde. The jury, however, disagreed as to whether Wilde on that occasion committed any indecency.

Sir F. Lockwood, Q.C., the Solicitor General who appeared to prosecute, [an]nounced that the Crown would not, in view of Taylor having been convicted on the second charge, persist with the first.

The jury were then discharged and Taylor remanded for sentence.

WILDE'S TRIAL.

LONDON, May 21.

At the close of the trial of Alfred Taylor at the Old Bailey to-day, his Honor Mr. Justice Wills gave his reserved decision on the application made to him yesterday by Sir Edward Clarke, Q.C., for a postponement until next session of the trial of Oscar Wilde.

Mr Justice Wills said that he did not perceive any reason why it should be granted. Therefore, he felt it to be his duty to refuse the request.

Highlighted DifferencesNot significantly similar